Posted on December 30, 2012 in Books, Knitting & Crafting
Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a lovely holiday season.
I didn’t post last week because I really didn’t have anything to write about as I spent most of those last two weeks recovering from my sinusitis. But guess what? I got the flu!
The worse of it is over as the fever broke late Friday. I have been very lucky to not have contracted the flu since I was a toddler. I suspected it was the flu because I don’t remember having a fever that intense. There has been a big flu outbreak in my city, and since my immune system had already been recently compromised (welcome new virus!), I was susceptible. It is disappointing because I wanted to go out more this week. Also, for once, I had plans for New Year’s Eve (rare for me) which I had to cancel. Just my lucky to have a whole of 2012 relatively low on illnesses and all shoved into December.
In other news, I read some Bel-Ami on Christmas and will try to read some today when I am more alert. I really want to finish it before the New Year, but I am not sure I will given how slow I read in French.
I also cleaned up an old TV caddy which had VHS tapes (remember those?) so I could shove some of my less read books up there such as my Harry Potter series. My books are breeding at a fast rate. I ordered 4 new cookbooks and 1 knitting book on Boxing Day. This does not include the 2 actual cookbooks I intended to get myself for Christmas. After that, I will stop until next the holidays at least.
I also went Boxing Day shopping at Michaels. This is my third year in a row shopping there. I don’t really like shopping with big crowds, but a big box craft store isn’t as busy as a mall. Not only is the yarn on sale on this day, there is an additional 25% the whole sale including sale items. I stocked up on some Patons Classic Wool.
I also bought an OttLite Craft Lamp which appears to be a recently discontinued model:
I’ve read about these lamps on Ravelry, and been doing some research on them. I have a big desk so I actually have two lamps: one regular fluorescent and one halogen. To save energy, I almost never use overhead/ceiling lights. I wanted to replace the fluorescent lamp because it is rather dim and yellow. Lately, I’ve found it tiring to read long periods under fluorescent light at night. The OttLite comes with good reviews: both for knitting and reading. They are also suppose to be very energy efficient.
So far, it’s been working well. I emailed OttLite with a question and they were prompt in replying even for the holidays. While I am not crazy about choosing a white lamp, I like that mine folds in itself so it looks less cluttered when not in use.
The Michaels I went too didn’t have a big selection. The item was on for 50% off that week though. It was between this craft lamp, a very heavy black table lamp, the Tulip (which obviously had been opened and/or returned), floor lamps, and a travel pink light. I think if I like the OttLite enough, I’ll wait until another sale to get a travel version as I can see it great for travel.
Do you have an OttLite or a specific reading/crafting light? Do you like it and which brand and model do you have?
Posted on December 28, 2012 in Knitting & Crafting
Flickr Slide show (does not include all projects done in 2012).
A year end review of the items I made in 2012. This was my sixth year of knitting. I completed 10 projects (worked on 13). Compare that to the 33 I completed in 2011, the 2012 number is very low.
I do still love to knit, but this year, I’ve taken on more hobbies. I’ve gone back to blogging, reading more, played badminton for a bit, tried to spin for a bit too, play the violin again, socialise and much more. All of this means I am spread more thinly in my leisure time, and honestly, that’s alright. I think I knit so much the last couple of years 2010 and 2011 – especially, the big three S’s: sweaters, scarves/shawls, and socks – that I will have enough handknits to last me awhile. I just am more careful about the projects I start, and I don’t feel the need to start projects as quickly after completing them.
The problem is that I still continue to accumulate a lot of yarn. Not as much as when I knit more before, but still a good amount. This year had me joining the Hazel Knits sock club for a couple of months and the occasional yarn purchase. I also took up spinning briefly which means I now have a small spinning stash of fleece and roving.
Here’s a summary and notes of the projects of this year.
Posted on December 21, 2012 in Knitting & Crafting
This was a complete and utter stashbuster. I really don’t know of any girl babies, and I just made this since I had the pattern book and the yarn. It turned out a bit meh to be honest even for a knit that took only a couple of hours at most. They are tad big at the ankle. I made a size small, but because of the sport weight yarn, they are actually the large size from the pattern.
Tiny Shoes, started December 4th 2012, finished December 8th 2012. 
Pattern: Tiny Shoes by Ysolda Teague from Whimsical Little Knits
Size: 4″/10cm at the sole
Yarn: Leftover Louet Gem Sports Weight in Linen Grey – Love this yarn! It is soft and has a lovely twist.
Needles: 3.0mm/US#2.5 100cm bamboob circulars
Modifications & Notes: Cable Cast on for new stitches. Garter Stitch Kitchener. Made size S, but I had sport yarn. Blocked by washing it, rolling it up, and then stuffing it with plastic wrappers. Storing it stuffed with tissue paper.
Tools/Notions: Two shell buttons.
Cost of Project: Can’t really calculate since I used all leftovers. Maybe the buttons are like 40p each based on the set I got them.
Would I knit it again? No. I’m not sure what it is, but these aren’t that good of booties.
Helpful Links: Garter Stitch Kitchener
Have a good weekend! For more FOs, go to Tami’s Amis.
Posted on December 7, 2012 in Knitting & Crafting
This Totoro version of the Paper Dolls sweater is something I have wanted to do for a couple years now. After rewatching My Neighbor Totoro, it was definitely time to make this sweater. This is my homage to Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki.
It didn’t quite work quite like I wanted it to. Mainly that even though I was at gauge, my yoke ended up a bit tighter, but I think worse of all, the underarm and sleeve cap is tiny. I’ve found that small arms are an issue with Kate Davies patterns. I can just get away with it because I don’t have big arms to begin with. It doesn’t look tight, but the upper arms are very restrictive. Relative to the upper body, the torso is on the looser side actually. I did extra waist decreases, but it still gave me some positive ease.
Posted on October 19, 2012 in Knitting & Crafting
This knit purse was a stashbusting project from yarn from the first sweater I ever made: Aftur (Ravelry link). I had several left over balls from the main sweater and the fair isle. The designer probably foresaw this and designed this companion purse to go with it. 
It is doubtful that I will use it often because I tend to like bigger bags. I don’t really wear the sweater often either, but only for outdoors activities such as skating and hiking which I don’t very often in general. I love this sweater though. It is very itchy so I always have to wear turtleneck underneath it, but it is very warm and it almost feels like I am wearing protective chain mail with it on. I love lopi wool.
Taska, started September 10th, finished October 3rd 2012.
Pattern: Taska by Védís Jónsdóttir from Ístex Lopi No. 25
Size: Blocked W 9.5″/25cm x H 10.5″/28cm
Yarn: Ístex Létt-Lopi. Leftovers from my Aftur sweater. Here the original amounts I started with, and all leftovers from the original 12 bought for the sweater, save the last brown one. I only used up the brown and the orange one. Still have a fair amount of the others left:
- Oatmeal: 32g+34g
- Black Heather: 21g
- White: 35g
- Mustard: 41g
- Crimson Red: 42g
- Orange: 48g – Even though I had a full skein of this, ran out of this in the lining and had to finish with the Mustard.
- Brown: 23g – I had little of the the black to start off, but I used leftover brown (23 g) from another lopi project to replace it. I also used this brown for the strap.
Needles: HiyaHiya #7/4.5mm and #6/4.0mm 40″/100cm metal circulars. The latter only for the strap. Also a 4.0mm crochet hook for the loop.
Modifications & Notes:
- Judy’s Magic Cast-On for the start so I wouldn’t need to sew the bottom closed
- Used a tutorial for the crochet loop tutorial. I am not a good crocheter so I did my best and it’s not neat, but it’s rather sturdy.
- Slipped first stitch of every row the strap. Knit until I ran out of yarn which was around 115cm.
- Blocked the strap and the bag before sewing them and the button on.
- The strap is too long though, I would make it about 30cm shorter for someone of average height. I sewed it deep down into the bag for the result.
Tools/Notions: One button.
Cost of Project: Whatever the small fraction from the original 12 skeins I bought from the sweater ($65CAD) + the brown + the button.
Would I knit it again? No, but I do like this pattern as a stashbuster.
Have a good weekend! For more FOs, go to Tami’s Amis.
Posted on October 17, 2012 in Knitting & Crafting
Lately, I have been working on the Paper Dolls pattern by Kate Davies, but I am doing the Totoros variation. I’m using Sandnes Garns Sisu cream, green and dark grey for the Totoros so it will resemble the big one in the film. It was the most cost effective twisted yarn that I could find, and actually, it’s not bad so far. Just a tad fuzzy. I really like the look of the corrugated ribbing which I knit the MC White in my right hand and the CC1 Green in my left with Norwegian Purling.
Someone on Ravelry gave me their Totoro spreadsheet, but I modified the decreases for my own size which took about an hour of maths. I’ve only made about three waist decreases so far and I’m decreasing faster in the pattern because I am making a smaller waist than for the size 6/34″ that I am making. I think I am mostly on gauge with my 2.75mm though I may need to change needles for the yoke to be smaller since many people seem to lit a bit looser for stranded work. Furthermore, my chart is taller than the one in the pattern.
I am knitting a bit less these days since I have so many other hobbies going on. I still love to knit and am doing it regularly, but I am trying to achieve a balance with it. Before, I use to knit every day, and now, I am much better at knitting in big bursts every few days. The projects take longer, but I really need to cut back my knitting for other things.
What’s on your needles today?
For more WIP Wednesdays, go to Tami’s Amis.
Posted on September 21, 2012 in Knitting & Crafting
This project took me almost four months to complete. Unlike some knitters, I knit wool through the summer. I once made my Hemlock Ring Blanket, another Jared Flood pattern, in early summer too. I can bare heat pretty well. I live in Canada so the summers are not unbearable for wool knitting until this year! I started in May, but I put it on hold for a month to knit something else. I almost didn’t knit in July, the dryest and hottest July in my hometown’s history. Most of the work was done in August and early Sept.
I wanted to knit Eco 8014 with this. I really love the Eco wool, but I could not afford to make this project with that yarn. Come last Boxing Day, the Fishermen’s Wool was on sale (and I also had a coupon) making the price of it about a third of what the Eco would have been. Even though I wanted to do this originally in the Oatmeal, there was only the other colours available. The Fishermen’s Wool is a fine affordable yarn, but it has a lot of knots. I think I averaged 2-3 per skein. Sometimes, I would get lazy and not cut them out, but usually I’d cut and felt together again.
Blocking: I’ve been so lazy with my lace blocking of late. I didn’t even bother to pin this one. I did my usual which is soaked it in Eucalan and spun it in the washing machine. Then, I put it on a clothes rack (like the ones you buy for indoor hanging), but put it outside in the setting sun. Afterwards, I just laid it on my bedroom floor and walked on it. The edging looks the most floppy and unblocked, but the center is very lacey. It also came out bigger than in the pattern which is good. It’s definitely a nice size for a double bed, but I sleep on a twin/single. I am already using it as it’s a great extra layering blanket on these autumnal nights.
Girasole, started May 19th, 2012, Bound off September 9th 2012.
Pattern: Girasole by Jared Flood from Brooklyn Tweed
Size: roughly 84″/220cm in diameter which is larger than the pattern’s projected 72″ diameter
Yarn: Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool – 4.12 skeins in Natural. Four whole skeins and 27grams from a fifth one. Thank goodness, I bought more when it went on sale again in February.
Needles: HiyaHiya #10.5/6.5mm 120cm/60″ bamboob circulars with an additional bamboo 100cm/40cm circular of the same size to finish the edging.
Modifications: None, really. I used techknitter’s circular CO, which is my preferred circular cast-on. Video for that here. As an added tip, for the double YOs: I knit 1, purled 1 into the first YO and then knit 1 into the second.
Tools/Notions: Used lifelines a few times and stitch markers always for lace.
Cost of Project: For the four skeins, $28 but with the fifth, an additional $7. I bought these needles specifically for the project when I bought the pattern in 2010. I think the needles were $10.
Would I knit it again? Doubtful. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it, but the longer it took to knit, the more it became this big chore to finish. The reason that I wanted to do this so bad was because I loved my experience with the other blanket. This one was OK. I’d totally do another lace blanket again, but perhaps not this one.
Have a good weekend! For more FOs, go to Tami’s Amis.
Posted on September 12, 2012 in Knitting & Crafting
Last week, my first ever yarn/sock club purchase came in the mail from Hazel Knits Yarn Club. I have been waiting for this package for almost a month. Actually, if you factor in the fact I bought the early bird, I’ve been waiting for it for two months!
I am not sure why it was delayed. From the USA, things can take as quick as one week, usually less than two weeks. I became increasingly worried about it because it is very nice yarn and was my first club purchase. Even on the day it arrived September 4th, I was preparing to email Wendee the dyer and/or the USPS.
But it came and it is lovely! I am not sure what to do with it at the moment other than to ogle and fondle it. I may use the green for a stranded sweater I had in mind. Not sure. It did come with a stranded sock pattern which is also tempting. Hmm.
In other news, I finished Girasole and it is big, lacey, dry and with rough edges. The FO post up this Friday hopefully.
As usual, I always start a new project right after I finish the previous one. My current project is stashbusting lopi by making Taska, a purse from Istex Lopi book #25. I own this book because I bought two years ago to make my first sweater, Aftur:
Gosh, I adore lopi. You can’t wear it everyday and it’s difficult to wear indoors because it is so hot, but when for outdoors, it is perfect. I’ve worn it on a hike in the woods in the autumn and skating with a merino turtleneck underneath at -15’C. It feels like iron. I was always proud of this sweater even though it is a bit on the boxy side since I didn’t add any waist shaping. As a first sweater, I think it is pretty good.
When I finished it, I ended up with a lot of leftovers including almost two full balls of the MC and lots of bits from the fair isle. Taska is the companion project and just a way for me to stashbust and knit lopi again. It is unlikely that I will use the purse very much, but it will be cute none the less.
Thanks for reading. Let me know what is on your needles today?
Posted on August 29, 2012 in Knitting & Crafting
A quick update: I haven’t worked on my Girasole blanket very much. I am on the last repeat of Chart G now. It won’t be finished before September. Oh goodness, I’ll be so glad to finish it. Hopefully cooler weather will allow to work on it before the four month mark. Onto better news…
On Saturday, I went to the first Twist Festival. It was good and I hope they do it again next year.
I did not buy much, but I could have bought more if I was not with my family for which I was gratefully restrained! I did get two things from Gaspereau Valley Fibres:
My first skein of Fleece Artist! It is a Canadian staple and I even bought it from Nova Scotians, but it is generally very pricey. I got this one at a good price and tax free! I don’t know what this colour of the Merino 2/6 is called.
The Fleece Artist is sitting on 400g BFL rovings. Even though my learning to spin is on the back burner, I can’t help buying more fibre especially BFL! I can make a fine shawl from this.
I made a list of possible shawls for the Fleece Artist Merino 2/6. I know people use it as sock yarn, but frankly, I find merino sock yarn with little to no nylon in it prone to holes. They aren’t practical even around the house.
Does anyone have suggestions on what to do with a variegated skein of 4ply 350m merino that isn’t socks?
For more WIP Wednesdays, go to Tami’s Amis.
Posted on August 22, 2012 in Knitting & Crafting
Good grief this thing has taken forever. Progress on the blanket that never ends: I am on the first repeat of the penultimate chart G. After finishing this chart twice, it’ll be the edging.
This blanket has taken the whole of summer. I am now focusing more of my spare time on this blanket because I want to finish it soon. The weather has cooled down so I can come home from work and knit.
Given my current progress, I can finish Girasole before this month ends. After that, I’ll probably knit some socks. I haven’t knit socks since last year!
I haven’t been spinning. I’ve been busy with reading, the blanket and other stuff. I sort of hit a plateau in my development. I know I should to keep it up daily, but I am finding it difficult and a bit tedious since it takes forever to spin. Unlike with knitting, I can’t really see the results of my work as well. I am also unsure of what I should do with this yarn I am spinning. I will most likely ply it in two though it’ll take awhile to get there.
In other news, I am waiting for my first sock yarn club shipment from Hazel Knits. I bought it last month for the early bird pricing and I’ve heard a lot of good things about the yarn and the club. I’ve always wanted to join one, but the expense has always put me off. The good thing about this club is that you can buy it per shipment.
This weekend, I’m going to the Twist festival in Western Quebec. I haven’t been coveting any yarn or patterns lately. I’ve had less knitting mojo this summer than compared to other ones. I hope I find some affordable and nice yarns when I go on Saturday.
For more WIPs, check out Tami’s Amis.
Posted on July 27, 2012 in Knitting & Crafting
Handle lengths: 4.5″/11cm. Center piece: 9″/22cm.
This isn’t a fibre FO, but it relates to my fibre crafts.
Since I wanted to learn to spin, I realized that eventually I would need to make my own skein of yarn. I could do with a chair or my knees, but then I found these tutorials on how to make a Niddy Noddy out of PVC. I wasn’t going to be able to make it for $5 because supplies have gone up in price and Canada is pricier than American. Still the Canadian Home Depot website told me I could make the thing for around $8. Great, except there were issues.
Basically, I had a lot of problems looking for the supplies. I went to Home Depot and another hardware store and the former told me they were no longer ordering any PVC anymore and phasing them out. They only had 3/4″ connectors instead of the 1/2″ that I wanted and other stores didn’t have PVC altogether. After thinking about, I decided to go for the 3/4″ because that’s just a bit thicker, but then I found out they didn’t have the Tee connectors I wanted so I had to get cross connectors so that’s why my Niddy Noddy has a weird top and bottom in the middle. I thought Home Depot had a machine to cut, but the guy there hand sawed mine (while I helped). That took awhile. Also, it ended up being much more expensive than I anticipated.
Larger size niddy noddy with the same two cross connectors. Handle Length: 6″/15.2 cm. Center piece: 18″/45.7cm
I am one of those people that commits to something, I want to finish it. I guess this is a good trait because that means I rarely give up a book, craft project, movie or anything in my life. I try to do my best to finish it and see it through even if I rush it. I got it set into my head to do this project, so I went out and got the supplies. I do feel now that I should have saved $16 and not made it and saved for a proper wood Niddy Noddy.
However, the benefits this were that I did get two Niddy Noddies out of it and you can dye/paint on PVC more easily than you can do wool. I much prefer the smaller size, pictured at the top. The big one is too large and unwieldy. It is neat that I can interchange the noddy. I haven’t used it yet so if they are rubbish, I can’t judge that yet.
PVC Niddy Noddy, July 2012.
Pattern: Slip Stream Fiber Arts & The Anticraft.
Yarn Materials: 3/4″ PVC Pipe (10ft I think), 3/4″ PVC Cross Connectors
Modifications: 3/4″ instead of 1/2″. Cross connectors instead of Tee connectors.
Tools/Notions: Home Depot employee
Cost of Project: About $16CAD.
Would I knit make this again? No. Even if I did, I doubt I could find the materials in the future.
Posted on July 25, 2012 in Books, Knitting & Crafting
Last week, I wanted to post a WIP Wednesday, but found I hadn’t progressed very much either in spinning or my knitting. Mostly because this has been the hottest summer in my hometown. We do not have air conditioning so it makes me averse to knitting a giant wool blanket. Having said that, it cooled down for a few days, and I have been crafting again.
An important thing is that I bought Abby Franquemont’s Respect the Spindle from Chapters online. I usually buy new books online from Amazon, but I found that they didn’t have the book in stock (would take 1-2 months for delivery). I also had to replace one of my Harry Potter hardcover books, so I was able to get free shipping. I do not recommend buying from Chapters online though because the Harry Potter book came dented, ripped, and dirty. I returned it at a Chapters locally, but had to pay an additional $12 just to get one off their shelf. Blah. I usually do not buy new books. The last time I did was the Boxing day sale on BookCloseOuts which are very below average retail price. I love new books, but I can’t really afford to buy them even occasionally. I digress.
I didn’t plan on buying a book to learn spinning because I have library books (but my library doesn’t carry Respect the Spindle) and the internet. I bought Stitch and Bitch when I started knitting, but I didn’t use it much then and I rarely look at it now. One book to start off a hobby is reasonable though and I’ll have it always to refer to.
As for the book, I’ve looked through it, but I actually plan on reading it cover to cover which I don’t usually do with my crafting or cook books. This spindle book seems concise and well written though.
As recommended, I have been spinning every day when I can. I think my drafting is getting better. I am slightly more consistent in drafting out something thin.
I am spinning, more or less. I am parking and drafting. It is taking forever, but it is coming out sport to lace thin now which is what I want as opposed to the chunky to fingering I had going on
before.
The thick strand on the left is the original loosely spun worsted single ply yarn.
There are still a few problems. My drafting comes out sometimes too thin, and as a result, it overspins and snaps. This has happened a few times. I think I need a smaller spindle? Secondly, I have not achieved any rhythm. I spin, stop and draft carefully, repeat. It is a time consuming to get one yard, but it is getting therapeutic and less frustrating.
I am spinning leftover worsted weight single ply yarn. The drafting of that is different than if I did it off a roving, but I am reusing yarn and it’s working. I really hope it holds up. This is my practice yarn so I may use this when I learn to ply as well. I’ll wash it first to see how it handles as a single ply though.
Now that I am spinning more, I am susceptible to spindle lust! I can’t wait until I get another spindle or two. I have my eye on a trindle, not to mention getting a tiny turkish spindle from the someone people who made mine above. Eee! Hobbies require money!
As for knitting, I think I’ve knit about ten rounds on the Girasole. I am on my second skein of Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool. I’m having a hard time photographing the thing because it is so big now so it’ll be macro shots from here on out.
What are you crafting lately?
For more WIP Wednesdays, visit Tami’s Amis.